Tasmania capital, Hobart
Optus has built 37 new mobile sites across Tasmania in a $42.2 million investment over the last 12 months.
The 37 base stations represent a 25 per cent increase in the number of sites across the state and adding up to 151.
The investment is set to improve call quality and download speeds for mobile customers.
Seven stations were installed in Hobart and surrounding suburbs, five were installed in Devonport and surrounds, 10 were built in Launceston and surrounding areas and three along the East Coast.
“Tasmania is a priority state for Optus," Optus CEO Allen Lew said. "In July last year we committed to building 35 new sites by July 2019. I’m proud to say that we’ve delivered on that target of 35 sites as well as an extra two locations in just 12 months.
"The introduction of new sites is testament to our commitment to building the best possible mobile network across the state. We firmly believe that competition is not only good for the economy, but also good for the customer with these new sites providing customers with choice and better value.”
Lew also announced a further $4.5 million investment to build eight new sites across Tasmania by March 2019.
“Our investment doesn’t stop after these new sites are delivered, and we look forward to further announcements in the future,” Lew said.
He said that it can be challenging to provide mobile coverage in Tasmania.
“We believe that whether customers live and work in the cities or smaller towns and regional locations, they should have access to the same, network services and coverage."
In July 2017, Optus had set aside $1 billion towards the improvement and expansion of its mobile network in regional Australia, as part of its ongoing investment program that has seen more than $3.6 billion put into its mobile networks since 2015.
At the time, the telco aimed to meet five key targets by the end of June 2018, the first of which was the build of 500 new mobile sites across regional and remote parts of Australia, capturing 114 sites under the Federal Government’s Mobile Blackspots Program.
